updated 01:18 pm EST, Tue November 13, 2012

Handset headed to Verizon

HTC has introduced a new member in its Droid family, the DNA, which will join Verizon's existing lineup. The flagship Android smartphone integrates a five-inch LCD 3 display, only slightly smaller than the displays on Samsung's Galaxy Notes, though HTC argues that its device does not fall within the "phablet" categorization that has been tied to the competing devices.

The DNA is one of the smallest devices to feature a 1920x1080 display, enabling full HD video playback without requiring content to be downscaled. Pixel density has also improved, reaching 440 pixels per inch and jumping past the iPhone's 326-pixel-per-inch display.

HTC is also focusing on camera quality, pairing an eight-megapixel primary sensor with a f2.0 wide-angle lens and five-level flash. The front-facing shooter is capable of shooting 2.1-megapixel stills or 1080p video, while the f2.0 ultra-wide-angle lens catches 88 degrees of view.

The handset is powered by Qualcomm's latest 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, along with 2GB of RAM and a 2,020mAh battery with wireless charging. The components help drive Android 4.1.1 and HTC's latest overlay, referred to as Sense 4+.

Verizon is already taking pre-orders on the DNA ahead of its November 21 arrival. The phone costs $199 with a new or upgrade-eligible contract.